Articulated joint unit for hinging two members together



April 21, 1959 c. R. BAccA 2,883,254

ARTICULATED JOINT UNIT FOR HINGINGTWO MEMBERS TOGETHER Filed Dec. 9, 1953 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IQ'VENTOR.

CHARLES BACCA DES JARDINS, ROBINSON & KEISER H IS A'TTORN EYS April 21, 1959 c. R. BACCA 2,883,254

ARTICULATED JOINT UNIT FOR HINGING TWO MEMBERS TOGETHER FiledDec. 9, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3/ 13 wges INVENTOR. CHARLES R. BACCA BY I 24 DESJARDINSHZZBINSON & KEISER w I W Hl s' ATTORNEYS C. R. BACCA April 21, 1959 ARTICULATED JOINT UNIT FOR HINGING TWO MEMBERS TOGETHER Fil ed Dec. 9. 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. CHARLES R. BACCA BY DES JARDINS, RQBJNSON 8.. KEISER HIS ATTORNEYS mirror is of plate glass secured to the front side of the door by a channel edging strip 4 encircling the peripheral edges of the door and mirror. The cabinet is of conven tional form with its marginal flange 5 bent back from the face portion 6, forming the front edge of the cabinet, parallel with the wall 7. This results in a U-shaped chan nel 8 between the flange and the side and end walls opening towards the rear side of the cabinet. The cabinet is ordinarily seated in a wall recess, formed in the building wall, with the edge 90f the flange 5 abutting a portion of the wall surrounding the wall recess. Conventional shelves are "adapted tobe provided in the cabinet, supported. at their opposite ends by channel supports 11 fixed in position on the opposite sidewalls of the cabinet.

The above described cabinet and door are of conventional construction except in so far as being modified for having the hinge unit, hereinafter described, fitted thereto for hanging the door. The hinge construction is such as to hold the door in any desired open or.closed position. Accordingly, no other means is needed for this purpose in addition to the hinge unless it be desired to havethe door latched shut, in which event any conventional latch may be provided.

The hinge unit (Figs. 1 to 5 comprises a pintle rod of any suitable material having an intermediate otfset portion 12 between its two opposite terminalends 13 and 14, each ofwhich is bent at an angle to the offset portion.

One end 13 is inserted through a hole 15 in the door to snugly fit between the edging strip 5 and the edge of the mirror 3. This end of the rod is preferably flattened. The opposite end 14 of the rod is projected through a hole 16 in the marginal flange 5 at the top or bottom of the a, 1

cabinet and extends a substantial distance therebeyond. A rotatable seat, or bushing 17 of any suitable-material is preferably fitted to the cabinet by being inserted withinthe hole l6 and disposed with one end in abutting relation with the offset portion of the rod. It may be made J:

integral with or separate from the pintle rod. The reduced neck 18 of the seat or bushing fits the hole in the flange for the head or main part of said ,bushing to seat on the flange. This bushing is used for seating the oif-' set portion 12 of the pin rather than have it seat directly on the flange since the swinging of the offset would mar the paint applied to the cabinet if, it were in 'direct'contact with the flange. I Accordingly, this bushing may properly be considered a part of the cabinet even though made as:a separate part, It is loosely mounted in-the hole so as -to:turn relatively to the cabinet. It is recessed at 19 for the-offsetpoi'tionof the pinto fit thereinqand be caused to turn with the, pin. However, the recess 19 could be omitted and the bushingmade non-notatable inrespect to the'flange, thereby permittingjthe top face of the bushing to provide a bearing surface on which the offset portion 12 swings. Or a washer could be interposed between the offset 12 and the top of bushing 17, said washer being provided with the recess19 for seating the offset and turning with the pivotrod.

A clamp sleeve of any suitable'material, comprising a plurality of segments orsections 2 0, is disposed about the pin, each of the segments of the sleeve having an inclined portion 21 on its outer wall andadja'cent the .top end. These are recessed at 22 to loosely receive the reduced neck 18 of the bushing 17, and align them end to end, -said reduced neck IS being of a'length somewhat in excess of the thickness of flange 5 in order for it to extend into the recess 22 of section 20. A metal spring 23 is longitudinally coiled about the sleeve segments and compressed with one endseated against the inclined portion 21 on the sleeve and the opposite end seated against a nut 24 on the end of the pintle rod.- Accordingly, the compressed spring 23 holdsv thesegments tightly clamped radially against the pintle rod by reason of the inclined portions 21, and the end of the sleeve is held in fric- I .tional, engagement with..the flange 5. With .the spring compressed between nut 24 and the flange 5, the offset portion 12 of the pin is held closely in the recess 19 in the end of the bushing 17 and the end of the bushing is held in frictional contact with the flange to retard the swinging movement of the door. If a washer was interposed between the top of the bushing and the offset, the adjacent surfaces would be in frictional contact in addition to the frictional contact of the bushing with the flange.

There is a hinge unit for each end of the door with the door hung between them. The pintle rods do not need to be secured to the door other than by having the ends thereof inserted through the holes therein.

The hinged edge of the door is so positioned that it will abut against the flange 5 when the door is opened at about a ninety degree angle as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A rubber stop bumper or bumpers 25 may be fitted to the flange 5 similar to bumpers 26 on the front face portion 6 in position to be contacted by the hinged end of the door when opened to its extreme position. Orthe bumpers may be placed on the door to. engage the flange 5 of the cabinet.

In the embodiment of Figs. 6 to 8, the frictional resistance to the pivotal movement of the hinge parts is obtained by a thrust bearing comprised of a plurality of rings or washers 30 and 31 through which the angular end 14 of the pintle rod or pin projects. This end 14 of the-pin or rod is of a non-circular cross section conforming to the non-circular conformation of the hole 32- in the washer 30 for it to be rotatable with the pintle pin or red. This washer 30 has an car 33 terminating in 21 depending lug 34, and it is superimposed on the washer 31, which is non-rotatable in respect to the pintle pin or rod by reason of an car 35 terminating in the depending lug 36 which projects through a hole 37 in the flange of the cabinet. The under washer 31 is seated on top of the flangeofthe cabinet and the other washer 30 is superimposed .thereon with the hole therein in registration with hole 15.

Another ring or washer 38, with a hole 39 therein, isplaced on the underside of the cabinet flange on top of a washer 40 which is identical with washer 30. This washer 38 has an ear 41 with the hole 39 therein positioned to receive the depending lug on the ear 35, thereby holding it also non-rotatable in respect to. the pintle rod or pin. The ring 38 performs the same function as ring 31,. and hence there is a double stop means provided with each pintle pin or rod.

- v The hole 37 in the flange of the cabinet can be properly placed to have the car 35 in desired position to be en gaged by the lug 34 on the ear 33 for causing the door to be opened to any selected stop limit position.

1 j; A coiled spring 23 is inserted, surrounding the end of the pintle rod or pin, between the washer 40 anda nut 24 to..be screw-threaded to the end of said rod or pin. The compression of the spring can be regulated by the nut to cause the adjacent faces of the rotatable and nonrotatable washers to be in frictional contact, thereby dampening their relative movement to frictionally. hold the door closed or opened in any selected position less than extreme open stop position.

It'will be appreciated that the non-rotatable washers or rings are used to reenforce the cabinet flange and represent any suitable means for this purpose. They are functionally a part of the cabinet. The rotatable washers are functionally part of the pintle rod and may be connected thereto in any suitable manner to rotate with it.

ally held in place. "contacting washers not only function to dampen the swinging 'movement-of the door and hold it an any adrhecessary forsecuring the rods tothe door, they being securely heldin place when the "door ishung on the cabinet The swinging movement of the door is frictionally justed position, butprevents-it from being easily slammed open and shut. The-compression of the spring can be *of any desired predetermined degreeto regulate the frictional grip of-thecompressible sleeve with its contacting parts or the frictionalgrip between the contacting faces of the washers; I

Whilethe sleeve is preferably radially compressiblefor clamping the pin, it need not necessarily be of such construction, such radially compressible construction being for it to frictionally clamp the pinto dampen the swinging movementof the --door. The hinge unit is of novel construction with or without the clamp sleeve. So, too, the non-rotatable washers may be fixed in any manner to the cabinet to be non-rotatable in respect to the pintle pin or rod "an'dthe rotatable washers may be associated in any manner with the pintle rod or pin to be rotatable therewith. All of the washers are longitudinally movable in respect to the pintle pin or rod. However, the non-rotatable washers may be considered a part of the cabinet, and the rotatable bearing sleeve and the rotatable washers may be considered as a part of the pintle pin or rod.

It will be understood that there may be various changes in details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A medicine cabinet having a back, top and bottom sidewalls forming a main body portion adapted to be inserted in a wall recess, top and bottom rearwardly extending flanges on the top and bottom walls adapted to overhang and abut against the wall surface, and a door hinged to the cabinet by hinges fitted to the door and provided with extensions adapted to be pivoted within holes formed through the top and bottom flanges, said hinges including a pin projecting through the holes in said flanges, a thrust bearing fitted to one of the pins, and a spring mounted on said pin for providing frictional thrust.

2. A medicine cabinet having a back, top and bottom sidewalls, top and bottom flanges substantially parallel with the top and bottom sidewalls and spaced therefrom to provide a channel opening towards the back of the cabinet, a door hinged to the cabinet, and a hingefor the door comprising a pin having an intermediate offset portion between opposite ends that are bent at angles thereto, one of said angular ends of the pin being fitted to the door and the other angular end of the pin projecting through a hole in the flange of the cabinet with the offset portion of the pin adjacent said flange, and seating means on the cabinet engaging end of the pin for the offset portion of said pin, said hinge being provided with a stop for limiting the open position of the door and including relatively movable parts having frictionally engaging surfaces to dampen the pivoted movement.

3. A wall cabinet and door hinged thereto comprising a sheet metal cabinet having a stamped outset-back rear wall surrounded by top, bottom and side walls forming an open chamber, a facial front edge for said top, bottom and side walls, a top and bottom flange extending rearwardly, generally parallel to the top and bottom walls, a door hinged to the cabinet for opening and closing the chamber, a top and bottom hinge for the door, each hinge comprising apintle rod fitted to the door and tortlie" gcabinet flange, a ring fitted to each pintle rodadjacent the outer side of the cabinet flangeqihavinga face surface in frictional contactwith said flange, a compressed spring mounted on the pintle rod between the inner side of the cabinet flange and aiseating meanson said pintle rod'for [holding the spring compressed, and a limit stopcarn'ed by said pintle rod for engagingwith a cooperating limit stop carried by the cabinet. i

4. The wall cabinet and hinged doorof claim 3 in which a ring is interposed between each of the other'rings having a mating surface in frictional contact therewith and is secured to the cabinet flange to be non-rotatable in respect to the pintle rod, and another ring inter-posed between the spring andthe cabinet flange.

5. A medicine cabinet having a back, toptand bottom sidewalls, top and bottom flanges substantially parallel with the top and bottom sidewalls and spaced therefrom to provide a channelopening towards the back of the cabinet, at door hinged to the cabinet, and .a hingefor the door comprising a pintle rod having an ,intermediateoffset portion between opposite ends that are bent at angles thereto, onezof said angular ends ,of the rodbeing fitted tothe door andthe other angular end projecting through a hole in the flange of the cabinet with theoffset portion of the rod adjacent the flange, a sectional bearing mounted on the pintle rod composed of a plurality of superimposed washers with at least two washers interposed between the offset of the pintle rod and the flange and with at least one on the opposite side of the flange, the washers adjacent the flange being non-rotatable;relatively thereto and the washer remote from the flange being rotatable with the pintle rod, stop means disposed on the hinge for limiting its pivotal movement, and spring means for yieldably holding the superimposed washers in frictional contact.

6. A wall cabinet having a back, top, bottom and side walls forming an open front chamber, a facial edge surrounding the chamber and terminating in rearwardly extending top and bottom flanges, a pintle rod fitted to each of the top and bottom ends of a door, hinged to the cabinet, and provided with a projecting end adapted to be fitted to the cabinet, a recess formed in the top and bottom cabinet flanges through which the projecting ends of the pintle rods are inserted, a thrust bearing on one of the rods adjacent one side of the cabinet flange, a washer disposed on the rod adjacent the opposite side of the cabinet flange, and a spring for urging the washer and thrust bearing towards each other and against the opposite sides of said flange.

7. The wall cabinet of claim 6 in which the spring is compressed between said washer and an adjustable means carried by the rod.

8. A support and door hingedly connected together at their top and bottom ends comprising a door, a support with top and bottom rearwardly extending flanges, a pintle rod holding means provided on the top and bottom rearwardly extending flanges, a pintle rod for each pintle rod holding means having one end fitted to the door and its opposite end engaged with said pintle holding means, said rod having an intervening portion disposed adjacent one side of the flange, and a spring mounted on the rod between a means fitted thereon adjacent the opposite side of the flange for urging the intervening portion of said rod towards the flange.

9. The hingedly connected door and support of claim 8 in which a rearwardly open channel is formed on the rear side of the support adjacent one side of the support walls, a door hinged to the cabinet for opening and closing the chamber,"a top and bottom hinge for the door, each hinge comprising a pintle rod fitted to the door and to the cabinet flange, a ring fitted to each pintle rod adjacent the outer side of the cabinet flange having a face surface in frictional contact with said flange, a compressed spring mounted on one of the pintle rods between the inner side of the cabinet flange and a seating means on said pintle rod for holding the spring compressed, and a stop for limiting the pivotal movement' of the door from closed to open position.

11. A wall cabinet and door hinged thereto comprising a 'sheet metal cabinet having a stamped out set-back rear wall surrounded by top, bottom'and side walls forming an open chamber, a facial front edge for said top,

surface in frictional contact with said flange, a com- 1 pressed spring mounted on the pintle rod between the i inner side of the cabinet flange and a seating'means said pintle rod for holding the spring compressed, and a stop for limiting the pivotal movement of the door ffrorn closed to openfposition,

References Cited in the file of thispatentj U UNITED STATES PATENTS 597,308 Tobey Jan. 11, 1898 825,355 -Selander July '10, 1906 1,159,529 Pan'zek Nov. 9, 1919 1,646,200 Hoegger u. Oct. 18,1927 1,687,174 Mountford Oct. 9,;1928 1,758,905 Brogden May 13, 1930 1,998,599 Weber Apr. 23, 1935 2,285,159 Hanson June 2, 1942 2,385,169 Stone Sept. ;18, '1945 r 2,439,664 Marchand 1 Apr. 13, 1948 2,534,779 Lane Dec. 19, 1950 2,578,171 Bub Dec. 11, 1951 2,622,266 Stehle Dec. 23,1952 2,698,958 Adams an. 11, 1955 a FOREIGN PATENTS 385,401 France May 12, 1908 527,813

Great Britain Oct. 16, 194$)v 

